News and Events

With theme "Fishing for Blood Donors - Hooked on Saving Lives," two-day event 'reeled' in 655 blood donors

Ocean City, MD - It snowed. There were blustery winds, freezing rain, and heavy fog. But despite the challenging weather conditions, 655 people registered to give blood in the 11th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive - the most recorded in the history of the event - at the Ocean City Convention Center on January 27 and 28.

"We were worried that the bad weather would hurt participation at the event, but that was definitely not the case," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "It was incredible to see hundreds of people leave the warmth of their homes and offices, pile into the Convention Center, and give blood to support the community and save lives. We are so grateful."

The blood drive was established to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors; the 2008 drive registered 640 donors - a former record high.

The Beach Blanket Blood Drive is sponsored by the Town of Ocean City, which has donated the use of the Convention Center since the event's inception. The co-sponsor is the Coastal Association of REALTORS, which helps promote the event and provides dozens of volunteers for the information tables and canteen. Several Ocean City businesses donated thousands of dollars worth of food and beverages to the canteen (post-blood donation area) and helped underwrite the cost of the free t-shirts provided to every registered donor.

The 11th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive was held January 27 and 28 at the Ocean City Convention Center. There was a record number of participants - 655 registered blood donors!

Click HERE for more information and center hours.

Beach Blanket Blood Drive hopes to reel in 700 blood donors

PICTURED: Jeannette Taylor, Atlantic General Hospital

Ocean City, MD - 51-year-old Jeannette Taylor, a pulmonology nurse at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, knows the lifesaving power of blood. She has been a blood donor for more than 30 years and, because of her job, she is reminded about the need for blood every day.

"As a nurse, I know how critical blood products can be. When somebody's teenager is pulled from a car wreck and they need blood, you just don't know how desperate a situation that can be for that family," Taylor said. "Giving blood is not something I even think about. It's as common as going to the mailbox, really. It's just a part of your life. It's easy to give knowing that my body will just make more blood... for my next donation."

Taylor will join hundreds of other blood donors from the greater Ocean City area at the 11th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive. The two-day event will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center (40th Street and Coastal Highway) on Tuesday, January 27 from 10:00am - 6:00pm and Wednesday, January 28 from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

The blood drive was established to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors; the 2008 drive registered 640 donors - a record high.

Taylor is grateful that the Blood Bank has programs and events in place - like the Beach Blanket Blood Drive - to help avoid serious blood shortages that affect other parts of the country.

"I didn't worry about the blood supply when my husband was in an accident and might have needed a transfusion. I didn't worry about the blood supply when my mother had a Carotid endarterectomy in the 80's. I didn't worry about an adequate blood supply when my father required open heart surgery in the 90's," said Taylor. "I trusted the Blood Bank would be there for them if they needed it... and it was."

Blood donors at the event will receive a free t-shirt and great snacks and coupons from Ocean City businesses. There will be live entertainment and live radio broadcasts by Clear Channel and Delmarva Broadcasting stations.

Anyone who would like to give blood during this drive should call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE for an appointment. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows.

Donate in comfort - then relax on "Blood Drive Beach"
The whole donation process is very simple and takes about an hour. It consists of a short medical interview, the actual blood donation (which takes approximately 5 minutes) and a visit to the canteen for refreshments. Donors giving blood on the ALYX system - a machine that collects two units of red cells while returning the other blood components to the donor - will find their donation takes just 12-20 minutes.

The real party begins as donuts, pizza, chips, baked goods, fresh fruit, candy and more await blood donors in the Beach Cantina. The oceanfront-themed canteen features refreshments donated by Ocean City restaurants and shops. Donors can relax on "Blood Drive Beach" with reading materials and beach music.

Directions:
From Ocean Pines, Salisbury and south of Ocean City:
Take Route 90 East into Ocean City
Turn right at light on Ocean Highway
Convention Center is on 40th Street on the right

From north of Ocean City:
Take Route 1 South to 40th Street
Convention Center on right
- OR -
Take Route 113 South to Route 90 East
Turn right at light on Ocean Highway
Convention Center is on 40th Street on right

City of Wilmington leaders roll up their sleeves in Grand Opening event

See PHOTOS from the event!

Wilmington, DE - To help increase blood donations in downtown Wilmington, Blood Bank of Delmarva has moved operations from the ninth floor of 913 North Market Street to a new donor center on the first floor of the same building. After experiencing a severe drop in downtown blood donations over the past decade, the organization is hoping the new street level location will improve its visibility and encourage word-of-mouth discussion about the center.

"The Wilmington Center first opened in 1984, and for about 15 years, we consistently had about 8,000 blood donors a year there. But this past year, we were only able to schedule about 3,000 donors," said Robert Travis, President and CEO of Blood Bank of Delmarva. "By moving to the first floor, we want to take our best shot at becoming more visible, increasing awareness of the center, and reversing this trend."

Wilmington Mayor James Baker joined Travis and other Blood Bank and city leaders at a Grand Opening event at the center on Friday, January 16 at 11am. There was an official ribbon-cutting and many high-profile attendees donated blood, including Police Chief Michael Szczerba, Chief of Staff Bill Montgomery, and 99.5 WJBR's morning host, Michael Waite.

New Perks for Wilmington Center Donors
Wilmington Center donors will enjoy some "perks" not offered at other Blood Bank locations. It has free WiFi, a gourmet coffee bar, and validated parking for blood donors (a new parking garage is located directly across the street on Shipley Street). The first 1000 donors will earn a chance to win a flat screen HDTV, one of ten framed prints by renowned local photographer Kevin Fleming, and one of sixteen of Fleming's best-selling books "Wild Delaware" and "Delaware."

"With so many Wilmington employees and people living north of the city, there is a lot of potential for growth in downtown blood donors," said Travis. "Hopefully, with the convenience of the new center, people will know where we are and realize how quick and easy it is to give blood and save lives."

The Wilmington center is now open every day - Monday to Friday - and has alternating day and evening hours. Blood Bank of Delmarva has 3 other permanent donor centers (Newark and Dover, DE and Salisbury, MD) and 29 locations throughout Delmarva visited by the Bloodmobile.

Click HERE for the latest pictures from the center and a virtual tour.

The first 1000 blood donors at the new downtown Wilmington Center (first floor of 913 North Market Street) will earn a chance to win a flat screen HDTV/DVD combo, one of four framed prints by renowned local photographer Kevin Fleming (his work is shown below), and one of sixteen of Fleming's best-selling books "Wild Delaware" and "Delaware."

After 1000 people have donated blood at the center, winners will be selected and notified. To make an appointment to give blood in Wilmington, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click here.

Photos from New Wilmington Donor Center at 913 North Market Street- 1/09

Jeannette Taylor, RN
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, MD
Pulmonology

"I am 51 years old, and I have been a donor since 1975 when I turned 18. My father was an advocate and donor for the Blood Bank. I grew up knowing the importance of life-saving blood donations. My father gave regularly and would show up whenever someone in our community was having surgery requiring blood or was in an accident and needed to have blood donations made for them. I guess I just followed the example that he set for me.

I didn't worry about the blood supply or quality when my husband was in an accident and might have needed a transfusion. I didn't worry about the blood supply or quality when my mother had a Carotid endarterectomy in the 80's. I didn't worry about an adequate blood supply when my father required open heart surgery in the 90's. I trusted the Blood Bank and the quality of blood supplied. My family and friends know that they can call on me for blood donations when needed. If I can't give, I'm on the phone looking for someone who can or, at the very least, I'm giving up a credit from my own account to cover their needs.

As a nurse, I know how critical blood products can be. When somebody's teenager is pulled from a car wreck and they need blood, you just don't know how desperate a situation that can be for that family. Giving blood is not something I even think about. It's as common as going to the mailbox, really. It's just a part of your life. It's easy to give knowing that my body will just make more blood... for my next donation."

Jeannette Taylor, RN
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, MD
Pulmonology

Blood Bank celebrates donor efforts during National Blood Donor Month this January

Newark, DE - As a new year begins, Blood Bank of Delmarva has many people to thank. Blood donors contributed a record 82,928 blood donations in 2008 - keeping the blood supply stable all year. More than 20,000 patients benefitted and no surgeries were cancelled because blood was not available.

Throughout the month of January, the Blood Bank and local blood transfusion recipients are thanking those blood donors through the annual celebration of National Blood Donor Month.

"Without the generosity of our donors, thousands of patients would not have been given a second chance at life last year," said Blood Bank President and CEO Robert L. Travis. "National Blood Donor Month is a great opportunity for us to recognize the regular blood donors who support us and keep blood on hospital shelves, even during challenging times of the year."

Holidays, busy travel schedules, inclement weather and illness all combine to make the winter months a time when blood is often in short supply. Because of this, the Blood Bank asks local residents to make a New Year's resolution in 2009 that is easy to keep: donate blood.

"January is a time of good intentions. It's a time when people reevaluate what is important to them and what they want from the coming year," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "People make all kinds of New Year resolutions - to lose weight, quit smoking, pay off debt - but what better resolution is there than to commit to saving lives just by taking an hour to give blood?"

And there is no better time to start than during National Blood Donor Month which begins January 1. For more information about the Blood Bank or to schedule an appointment to give blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.